Iconic house in path of Grafton bridge crossing sells

AN ICONIC Grafton home in the path of the second Grafton Bridge has been sold.

The Greaves St, Dovedale, former private hospital and foster home is believed to be one of the last properties to be resumed among those in Dovedale the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) engineers have earmarked for removal.

The home's owners, Julie Whetton and Keith Willis, have just signed over the house for an undisclosed sum.

The couple began renovating the house soon after buying it in 2005. They said it was a labour of love.

"We have been in denial since we learned it was in the path of the bridge works," Ms Whetton said.

"Even last year we were hoping it would come to nothing or be so far off it didn't matter."

She said events have moved swiftly and they were pushed up against an RMS compulsory acquisition deadline.

"If we hadn't sold by January 22, then the house would have been compulsorily acquired," she said.

She said the neighbours had sold and she thought the house was the last the RMS had acquired.

The couple had lavished much time and resources in creating a period piece of antique furnishings and stained glass with a stunning view of the Clarence River and Grafton Bridge.

Ms Whetton said the home was built by Mrs Loxton, daughter of Grafton's first town engineer WB Greaves, after whom the street is named.

She fostered children in the home during Second World War and after the war it became the Glyndon Private Hospital between 1954 and 1969.

A spokesperson said the RMS owns or has exchanged contracts for 22 out of 27 properties relating to construction of the second Grafton Bridge and negotiations are continuing on the remaining properties.

"Roads and Maritime works closely with property owners to achieve mutually acceptable agreements for purchase," the spokesperson said. "It is expected negotiations with the remaining property owners will be finalised before the end of January."